LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers announced Monday that they were shutting down the four-time MVP for the rest of the season.
According to Lakers head coach Luke Walton, James needed a lot of convincing before he agreed to sit out the remaining games.
“He wants to play,” Walton said. “My understanding from the medical staff, they finally said, ‘Look, it’s just not worth it anymore. Let’s make sure you have a healthy summer.’ So that’s the decision that was made, and we’ll move forward without him on the floor for the final six.”
In a career-low 55 games this season, LeBron averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. In his first season, LeBron has come under much scrutiny for his team’s failure to make the playoffs.
At Christmas, the team was fourth place in the Western Conference but they quickly hit a decline when James went down with a groin injury. Since returning to action, LeBron hasn’t been able to carry his team the way they needed him to and now he will be missing the postseason for the first time since 2005. With only five games left, LeBron has been told by the training staff that he needs to sit the rest of the season.
Trust and believe LeBron who be doing too much resting this season as he will probably put on his GM coat and try to lure as many free agents out to LA this summer
